Month: December 2019

Categories
History

2019 Year in Review

2019 was an eventful year for CCDL. It marked the end of an incredible decade of growth for the organization from just a few concerned residents around a table to a remarkable membership of 35,000. There are not words enough to thank Scott Wilson, all the founding members, committee members and volunteers throughout the past decade for their hard work and dedication. Their commitment to our cause laid the foundation for the next leadership team to continue to strengthen the organization in exciting new ways to come in 2020.

This year also marks the beginning of CCDL’s Outreach Program which will make our organization more successful in protecting the rights of Connecticut citizens by better leveraging our greatest strength – our members. We encourage all members to get to know our Outreach organizers and be involved in gun rights issues in your hometown.

Looking back, below is a recap of some of the activities that happened during 2019.

Continue reading “2019 Year in Review”
Categories
Meeting

CCDL Membership Meetings are Moving!

CCDL holds its monthly general membership meeting at 7:00pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month. Starting in February 2020 the meetings will take place at the VFW Post 511, in New Britain.  The January meeting is still at the Elks Club in Middletown.

Come join us in our new location on February 11th!

VFW Post 511 Hall

 

 

The VFW hall is located at:VFW Post 511 Map

41 Veterans Drive

New Britain, CT 06051

Click here for driving directions

 

 

Categories
Outreach Program

Meet your regional manager – Northwest Region

ATTENTION CCDL members in Northwest Connecticut!! Meet YOUR Regional Manager

In our ongoing effort to increase our effectiveness in advocating for our Constitutional rights, CCDL has developed its Outreach Program. We have also named the regional managers that together will cover the state.

The aim of the Outreach Program is to maximize CCDL’s grass-roots efforts to fight for ALL of our Second Amendment Rights through a structured organization framework. CCDL has more than 35,000 members and the Outreach Program will work to better leverage those members by assigning representatives in each of the 169 towns in Connecticut! Each representative will have enormous support by leaders who will guide and assist them in working for all of our Second Amendment Rights. If you have had ENOUGH of the gun-grabbers taking away YOUR rights, we want to help YOU help all of us!! Click the link below to see what Region your town is in and contact that Regional Manager to learn more.

“Hi, I am James Ritchie. I am the Regional Manager of the Northwest Region.

I have been providing testimony on gun issues to the legislature since 2013. I have a strong relationship with my State Representative and Senator. In addition, I am an NRA Instructor and a leather holster crafter. I also hold a 3rd Degree Black Belt in Kenpo and instructed for 10 years.

I am currently retired but have been a jack of all trades. I have been a journeyman tool & die maker, a MCSE, Web Master, CompTIA, and Novel certified instructor, ethical hacker in both the physical and logical realms, a certified Information Systems Security Professional and Certified Information Systems Auditor, an audit manager and security manager. I am also a published author on Information Systems auditing.

I am very excited to help CCDL in its Outreach efforts to fight for the Second Amendment.”

To figure out what region you are in – click here

Categories
Outreach Program

Meet your regional manager – Southwest Region

ATTENTION CCDL members in Southwest Connecticut!! Meet YOUR Regional Manager

In our ongoing effort to increase our effectiveness in advocating for our Constitutional rights, CCDL has developed its Outreach Program. We have also named the regional managers that together will cover the state.

The aim of the Outreach Program is to maximize CCDL’s grass-roots efforts to fight for ALL of our Second Amendment Rights through a structured organization framework. CCDL has nearly 35,000 members and the Outreach Program will work to better leverage those members by assigning representatives in each of the 169 towns in Connecticut! Each representative will have enormous support by leaders who will guide and assist them in working for all of our Second Amendment Rights. If you have had ENOUGH of the gun-grabbers taking away YOUR rights, we want to help YOU help all of us!! Click the link below to see what Region your town is in and contact that Regional Manager to learn more.

“Hi, I’m Jonathan Walsh. I have the distinct pleasure of being the Regional Manager for the Southwestern Region. I’ve worked hard to gain ground for the common gun owner ever since the NY Safe Act in 2013. Over the past 6 years I’ve locked horns with politicians in person, written newspapers, given interviews and tried my best to speak the life into the truth we all share. Gun control is not only morally wrong, but unconstitutional.

A secret about me: I think myself not a gifted speaker. I have crippling heart palpitations and arrhythmias every time I speak publicly (it’s really bad) and I find it hard to keep my mind on the words I have to say and the message I must deliver. If I had a choice, I wouldn’t do this work at all but I’m duty bound (I have a very personal and deep connection to service and to country.) I want to help others to dig deep, find their voice and tell their own truths until OUR legacy speaks for itself.”

To figure out what region you are in – click here

Categories
Meeting

Monthly Member Meeting – Tuesday, December 10th

CCDL holds its monthly general membership meeting at 7:00pm on the 2nd Tuesday of each month at the Elks Lodge in Middletown, CT. Our next meeting is Tuesday, Month December 10th.
All CCDL members are welcome and encouraged to attend.
Meeting Agenda:

  • Executive and Committee Reports
  • Recognition of Former Board Members & Introduction to New Executive Board
  • New Volunteer Opportunities for 2020
  • Progress Report of CCDL’s Outreach Committee & Early Successes
  • Review of New York State Rifle and Pistol Association v City of New York Supreme Court Actions
  • Recognition and Presentation of CCDL’s 2019 Legislator of the Year
  • Announcements of New Goals & Developments for CCDL in 2020

Avoid the wait and shipping fees! The full selection of CCDL merchandise is always for sale at our meetings, including many items not sold on our website.

As usual, we will be collecting canned goods/non-perishables for those less fortunate.

Continue reading “Monthly Member Meeting – Tuesday, December 10th”
Categories
Media

CCDL Announces Results from Board of Directors Elections

For Immediate Release:

Groton, CT- The Connecticut Citizens Defense League, the state’s largest grass-roots advocacy group for the right to keep and bear arms, is pleased to announce it has selected a new Executive Board. The Connecticut Citizens Defense League was formed in 2009 by a small group of concerned citizens as a non-partisan organization devoted to protecting the rights affirmed by the Constitution of the United States and the State of Connecticut. Since their founding, the group has grown to over 34,000 members. Thanks to the commitment of their members and Executive Committee, the CCDL has become a fixture at the state capitol, and well-recognized by committees that see firearms related bills.

Holly Sullivan has been elected to the role of President of the organization. She has previously served on the CCDL Executive Committee as the Event Coordinator. Additionally, she is actively involved in the DC Project and the Second Amendment Institute, both national organizations. Holly is succeeding Scott Wilson who has been President since the organization’s founding.

Frank Russello is the incoming Vice President and has served as the organization’s Technology Coordinator. He is succeeding Chris Lemos, one of the organization’s longest serving members.

Robert Starr will remain in his current position of Treasurer. Bob has dedicated years of service to the organization and will continue to ensure the fiduciary integrity of the organization.

Michele McBrien is the new Secretary and has previously served as the organization’s Merchandise Coordinator. She is succeeding Cheryl Lemos, who has served as member of the organization since its infancy.

I would personally like to thank the outgoing board members for their tireless dedication and commitment to the organization and our membership. I’d like to recognize Scott Wilson for ten incredible years of service, vision and diplomacy. The work of all past board members since the foundation of the organization has paved the way for a new leadership team to hold steadfast our mission to protect the unalienable right of all citizens to keep and bear arms, for the defense of both self and state, through public enlightenment and legislative action. I am confident the incoming Executive Board will defend the fundamental rights of all Connecticut residents.

Holly Sullivan
President
CCDL

Categories
Outreach Program

Meet your regional manager – Southeast Region

ATTENTION CCDL members in southeast Connecticut!! Meet YOUR Regional Manager!

In our ongoing effort to increase our effectiveness in advocating for our Constitutional rights, CCDL has developed its Outreach Program. We have also named the regional managers that together will cover the state.

The aim of the Outreach Program is to maximize CCDL’s grass-roots efforts to fight for ALL of our Second Amendment Rights through a structured organization framework. CCDL has nearly 35,000 members and the Outreach Program will work to better leverage those members by assigning representatives in each of the 169 towns in Connecticut! Each representative will have enormous support by leaders who will guide and assist them in working for all of our Second Amendment Rights. If you have had ENOUGH of the gun-grabbers taking away YOUR rights, we want to help YOU help all of us!! Click the link below to see what Region your town is in and contact that Regional Manager to learn more.

“I am a life-long shooter and gun owner, having grown up in a family of competitive shooters and hunters. I purchased my first firearm, a .22 single shot when I was 12. I’ve competed in three-position small bore, skeet, and most recently, IDPA, but enjoy shooting many more shooting disciplines across rifle, pistol and shotgun as well as being an avid hunter. However, my belief in the fundamental, inalienable right to firearm ownership far transcends sports and recreation. Having seen our rights eroded my entire life, I am no longer willing stand by and “hope” someone intervenes on my behalf. I fervently believe that our ability to arm ourselves as we see fit, without infringement is the mark of a free nation.”

Categories
Media

CCDL Alert- All Eyes on the Supreme Court

On Monday (December 2nd), The Supreme Court will hear oral arguments for   NYSRPA v City of New York . This is the first time that the Supreme Court of the United States has heard oral arguments on 2nd Amendment cases since both Heller v DC and McDonald v Chicago.

The initial and underlying Issue for this lengthy legal action action is whether New York City’s ban on transporting a licensed, locked and unloaded handgun to a home or shooting range outside city limits is consistent with the Second Amendment, the commerce clause and the constitutional right to travel.

Since this case was granted certiorari (an agreement to review a case) by the Supreme Court of the United States, there have been several failed attempts by anti-gun politicians to void this case based over “mootness” claims and other actions. There is a lengthy history of policy changes and state law changes designed to end to this case. Simply put, Anti-gun forces are afraid that a pro 2A decision that might broaden the scope of the 2nd Amendment will possibly occur because of this case.

Many outside parties of interest (including CCDL) have filed or co-filed Amicus Briefs- this is a legal brief that is otherwise known as ‘Friends of the Court brief’. Amicus briefs are written to help the court understand the issues at hand.

Important Note: Several anti-gun United States Senators (Including Richard Blumenthal from Connecticut) have filed one that stands out. While most of these types of brief’s are filed with the intent of displaying the potential impact of a ruling one way or another, this brief took an entirely different approach. Rather than focusing on a constitutional argument, these senators called into question the integrity and makeup of the court that included an assertion of political bias and a thinly vailed threat to restructure the court if it doesn’t rule in favor of NYC. We encourage our members to read this source to further understand what Connecticut Senator Richard Blumenthal co-filed with the Supreme Court.  

As soon as we have further information regarding the arguments, we will update CCDL members accordingly.

In the meantime, probably the best source of any information after Monday’s oral arguments will SCOTUS BLOG

Arguments were heard by the court.  Click here for the transcript

Click here to listen to audio argument